The tenth anniversary of Bach on Sunday was marked with a special two-hour program, produced by Corinne Schneider at the Radio France Auditorium. The event reflected on the program’s development over the past decade, showcasing a thoughtful yet open-minded approach to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The performance explored a wide range of musical styles, from jazz and improvisation to contemporary arrangements, demonstrating how Bach’s compositions can be adapted and reinterpreted across different instruments such as the piano, organ, and harpsichord.
Jazz pianist Paul Lay performed Gabriela Montero’s Beyond Bach, both as a solo piece and with his ensemble Bach’Groove. Luca Akaeda Santesson played the Passacaglia and Fugue in D minor BWV 582 on the Grenzing organ, followed by the Chaconnes BWV 1178 and 1179 on the harpsichord, performed by Benjamin Alard. Lucile Dollat and Eric Lebrun performed together, switching between the piano and organ to highlight improvisation as a natural part of Bach’s music. The Cantata BWV 35, which opens the program’s second hour every Sunday on air, was performed by the ensemble Il Convito, directed by Maude Gratton on the organ, with mezzo-soprano Lucile Richardot. This cantata is notable for being one of the few composed specifically for a concert organ.
The famous Chaconne for Violin in D Minor BWV 1004 was performed on the Grenzing organ by Eric Lebrun and Marie-Ange Leurent, using a transcription they created for four-hand organ and pedalboard. Alma Bettencourt, a 22-year-old organist who has been in residence at Radio France for three years, performed Point d'orgue by Martin Matalon, a commissioned piece that explores the Grenzing organ’s capabilities. The composition features complex counterpoint and extended techniques, such as reducing air pressure in the pipes to create a distinctive “out of breath” sound. The performance ended with a powerful crescendo, showcasing the energy and expressive freedom of the young organist.
Through Corinne Schneider’s Bach on Sunday, Bach’s music is not treated as a fixed or unchangeable legacy, but as a living and evolving form of artistic expression. The program demonstrates how his compositions can be extended, reimagined, and given new life through diverse interpretations and innovative performances.
Bach on Sunday Celebrates Tenth Anniversary with Diverse Musical Interpretations
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